Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 36

Devanagari script

त्यक्त्वा च वाहने श्रेष्ठे दण्डवत्पतितौ भुवि । ऊचतुश्च तदा देवौ द्वारकां प्रति हर्षितौ

Transliteration

tyaktvā ca vāhane śreṣṭhe daṇḍavatpatitau bhuvi | ūcatuśca tadā devau dvārakāṃ prati harṣitau

Translation

اپنے بہترین سواریوں کو چھوڑ کر وہ دونوں دیوتا زمین پر دَندوت (سجدۂ کامل) کی طرح گر پڑے۔ پھر خوشی سے بھر کر دوارکا کی طرف رخ کر کے بولے۔

Word by Word

• त्यक्त्वा: having left
• त्यक्त्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: त्यज्

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• वाहने: on the vehicle
• वाहने: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (on/in the vehicle)

• श्रेष्ठे: excellent
• श्रेष्ठे: अधिकरण-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वाहने)

• दण्डवत्: prostrate (like a staff)
• दण्डवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धित)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय (adverb: ‘like a staff’, i.e., prostrate)

• पतितौ: having fallen
• पतितौ: कर्ता-विशेषण (Describing subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्तरि; ‘fallen’

• भुवि: on the ground
• भुवि: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक: भुव्/भूमि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• ऊचतुः: they said
• ऊचतुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), द्विवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time)

• देवौ: the two gods
• देवौ: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• द्वारकां: Dvaraka
• द्वारकां: कर्म/प्रति-योग (towards)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards
• प्रति: दिशा
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: दिशाबोधक अव्यय

• हर्षितौ: joyful
• हर्षितौ: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्षित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (देवौ)

Speaker

Narrator (describing the two gods, i.e., Brahmā and Maheśa from prior context)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Dvārakā

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Two radiant gods dismount from their splendid vāhanas and fall in full daṇḍavat on the earth, faces turned toward the distant, ocean-girt Dvārakā, their bodies expressing reverent joy.

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā
• Brahmā
• Maheśa (Śiva)
• Daṇḍavat-praṇāma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

True greatness is met with humility: even exalted gods model surrender through daṇḍavat-praṇāma before a supremely holy abode.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

Dvārakā is revered as a sacred presence worthy of full prostration.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Daṇḍavat-praṇāma (full prostration) is exemplified as an act of devotion upon arriving at the holy place.